Steam freezing (not responding) when try to install a game

[Digitalkoch]

When I try to download a game, steam freezes.

I tried many hints in the web and of course removed and reinstalled it. Also with regcleaning.

Does someone have and idea how to fix that?

[Iceira]

There is only clear download cache that get a fresh server content , then validate game files or install it.

if that dont work you have other pc issue, and steam frozen sounds like you do.
have 5 time more in dl size then need it,and to have pc update.

add steam.exe to exceptions rule for firewall/antivirus is a most today.

[Digitalkoch]

What do you mean with " 5 time more in dl size then need it, to have pc update." ?

Firewall I already disabled for testing.

[Iceira]

The DL size multiple with 5 time as free space , this is seen as some games expand + made DL patch after and devs extra added content. ( some games do that ) anything lesser then 10% free space or red color bar at disk overview then you already have disk free space issue.

update pc that brand name pc or custom build brand mortherboard support place for driver and BIOS.


ps.
soon no one will explan such anymore it will be 250gb to 500gb free space if not have then it can be seen as to little room left on a 50gb dl flie.

[crunchyfrog]

There's anumber of issues that can cause this. Iceira is corrrect, and I'll get to that one in a sec.

The first port of call should always be to clear your download cache under your steam settings (you can also try clearing your web browser cache while you're at it too).

If things still persist, it's possible you have some corrupt steam files and there is a general fix for this. Go to you steam install folder and delte EVERYTHING except steam.exe, your steamapps folder (where your games reside) and userdata (if you have any screenshots and personal stuff you wish to keep).

Then run that steam/ex and it will reacquire any files needed. That should fix any corruption.

But if it still persists, then it's possible you are making the mistake many users make by not understanding that Steam works a little differently than other places.

For a start your install drive should NEVER use more than 90% of it's storage space. On top of this, because games both download encrypted AND compressed, you need to allow around 3 times the total file size for it to unpack and do all it's sorting and swapping.

So for example, if you have a 1TB drive, and you have used 850GB, you're at 85% so all is good. You have 50GB to play with. However, if you then go to download a 50GB game, you will likely have issues because it will need around 150GB to play with.

What typically happens when you run over the space, is you get downloads randomly stop, or don't start in the first place, or download to a different drive, or a number of other weird behaviours.

So make EXTRA sure you have more than ample space to work with.

Lastly, note regaring antivirus suites. If you have any quaratined files in there that can cause freezes like this too, so make exceptions for them.

[Digitalkoch]

Got enought disk space and I also changed the disk. It is not a space problem.

Any antivir I already disabled.

I also see an 10016 error in system logs and changed the settings like some websites explained regarding dcom

[Digitalkoch]

I was not able so solve it. Cost me a day. Now I restored a Windows backup and it works. (what a shame)

[Iceira]

Write them update down, so you can track it, maybe a update did it.
dont forget security update to network Driver update, im not saying you end up at same issue, but you could.

[Digitalkoch]

Yes I have to rewind my last post. My whole PC restore worked until steam did the update. Now it freezes again.

I sent them a support ticket and just hope not to be alone.

[Koriar]

My steam started doing this today as well, so you aren't alone. Please post here if you find a solution.

[bruticus0]

Originally posted by Koriar:

My steam started doing this today as well, so you aren't alone. Please post here if you find a solution.

After today's update, my kapersky started to go off on everything steam does. Had multiple registry, protected system, and network blocks popping up. For steam, webhelper, steamservice, and vulkansomething64.exe.

I noticed when I clicked on a game in library, there would be black squares where the game images should be. Then I'd get a kapersky notification. If I allowed it, the black squares would gain their correct images.

So, I went over all that because you may have something similar. Maybe not antivirus. But Windows defender. Or Windows firewall. Or User Account Control or something. But Steam has definitely upset some kind of balance that was fine before the latest update.

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by bruticus0:

Originally posted by Koriar:

My steam started doing this today as well, so you aren't alone. Please post here if you find a solution.

After today's update, my kapersky started to go off on everything steam does. Had multiple registry, protected system, and network blocks popping up. For steam, webhelper, steamservice, and vulkansomething64.exe.

I noticed when I clicked on a game in library, there would be black squares where the game images should be. Then I'd get a kapersky notification. If I allowed it, the black squares would gain their correct images.

So, I went over all that because you may have something similar. Maybe not antivirus. But Windows defender. Or Windows firewall. Or User Account Control or something. But Steam has definitely upset some kind of balance that was fine before the latest update.

This can often happen as antivirus suites will see certain bits of code as false positives.

The thing to do is to go to your antivirus suite (nad in some cases, your firewall) and check their quaratined list. If there's ANYTHING in there from the game in question or Steam itself, make exceptions for them and you should be good to go.

[Iceira]

There has been several post from diffrent user all over with kapersky seem to have trigger from not allow steam to update, but security apps and it issue is not a new thingy.
maybe OP need to explan what he has.

ahh CF post was on its way and cover same thingy.

[Koriar]

Nothing from my anti-virus, and the images all look fine until I go to install something so I think I have a different issue. I'm suspecting that one of my hard drives is failing and Steam might be trying to access it and is hanging on that, but it doesn't show up as an install folder anymore so I'm not sure why. Over the weekend I'm going to pull the hard drive so we'll see if that fixes it.

[Digitalkoch]

Koriar, would be good if you also send a support ticket. They told me that so far there is no complain. Do you also see in event log of windows a 10016 warning when clicking the install button?

I disabled all antivir or firewall for testing it. But no success.

[crunchyfrog]

Originally posted by Digitalkoch:

Koriar, would be good if you also send a support ticket. They told me that so far there is no complain. Do you also see in event log of windows a 10016 warning when clicking the install button?

I disabled all antivir or firewall for testing it. But no success.

Waste of time at this point to submit a support ticket.

As long as they follow the point about checking the hard drive, then we can work through and exhaust all the possible problems.

Contacting support will take a few days and they will likely just refer them here.